The number of opportunities available in online education has skyrocketed, and some people feel overwhelmed by the choices. How can you narrow your options? The first step is to rule out schools that aren’t properly accredited. Frequently asked questions about accreditation and finding accredited online colleges are answered below.

What is accreditation?

Accreditation helps to regulate the quality of public and private schools. It tells people that a school meets certain standards. Accreditation generally sets serious schools apart from low-quality schools and diploma mills.

What is a diploma mill?

Diploma mills require little or no coursework. They basically grant degrees in exchange for money.

Why should I attend an accredited online college?

Students at accredited schools can pay for some or all of their education with federal student aid. Accredited schools accept military tuition assistance too. More importantly, their degrees are recognized by employers and by other accredited schools, making students more likely to get hired or successfully transfer their credits to other colleges.

Which accrediting agencies are legitimate?

In the United States, colleges and universities are ideally accredited by a regional accrediting agency and/or the Distance Education and Training Council. The regional accrediting agencies recognized by the federal government include:

• The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
• The New England Association of Schools and Colleges
• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• The Western Association of Schools & Colleges

In addition to these major accreditor’s, there are scores of professional organizations that endorse particular programs. In some cases, their endorsements are very important. For example, law students may be at a disadvantage if they attend a law school that isn’t recognized by the American Bar Association.

How can I find out if a school is accredited?

Accredited schools generally mention their accrediting agencies online and in their printed recruitment materials. Most schools that you’ve heard of are accredited, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check. Search the databases offered by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the Distance Education and Training Council. You can also verify the accreditation status of a school by searching of the U.S. government’s accreditation database.

What are the warning signs that a school is substandard?

• It offers to grant a degree in exchange for your past experiences.
• Few courses, if any, are required for its degrees.
• Degrees are awarded after just a few weeks or months.
• Faculty members are not experts in their fields.
• The so-called university’s name is deliberately similar to that of a well-known and well-respected school. The diploma mill is trying to benefit from people confusing the two institutions.

Again, it is easy to determine whether a school is accredited by appropriate agencies. Check the databases offered by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the Distance Education and Training Council, and the US government.

How can I find accredited online colleges?

Descriptions for thousands of accredited degree programs can be found online. For starters, check out our online colleges and universities page that includes a Top Ten list of online schools. You can also find comprehensive information in books that are dedicated to distance learning. A third option is professional organizations. Groups of professionals such as civil engineers, lawyers, and psychologists often post accredited programs on their websites.